New answers tagged phrase-requests
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Are there any idioms/expressions that communicate the idea of a sort of circular journey, as in this T.S. Eliot quote?
“To be whole is to be part. True voyage is return.”
Ursula K. Leguin
The words are attributed to Odo the Philosopher in The Dispossessed, part of Leguin’s Hainish Cycle.
The second sentence captures ...
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A word for a state that changes regularly and consistently
The system exhibits periodic behaviour.
If you can edit your question to elaborate on the specific example you're trying to describe, you may get better answers.
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1
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A word for a state that changes regularly and consistently
"Like clockwork" seems like a good fit. According to Oxford Learner's, it's an idiom meaning:
go/run like clockwork
to happen according to plan; to happen without difficulties or problems
...
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A word for a state that changes regularly and consistently
I would say that this behavior is "cyclic". In this case, the cycle only has 2 states - on, off, on, off, ....
Other cyclic behaviors can have more states, such as
the seasons (spring, ...
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A word for a state that changes regularly and consistently
Intermittent is the usual word for a connection which is expected to be only available some of the time
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8
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A word for a state that changes regularly and consistently
If it was a continuous value I would suggest oscillate, but on and off seem discrete, so I might suggest switch but that has another meaning in networks.
I considered fluctuate, but that connotes ...
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A word for a state that changes regularly and consistently
The best term I can think of is "dynamic".
a dynamic network connection
(OALD) dynamic adjective
2 (of a process, relationship or system) always changing and making progress
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1
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What is the native word for describing an expression or gesture
The facial expression is a pout, and the verb for displaying this expression is to pout.
Merriam-Webster:
1a: to show displeasure by thrusting out the lips or wearing a sullen expression
a pouting ...
- 20k
2
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need a short idiom/phrase or word for two people/things that are complete opposites
Chalk and cheese.
When using the idiom “chalk and cheese,” you’re referring to two items, tasks, people, or ideologies that are entirely different from one another. The phrase still has a use today, ...
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need a short idiom/phrase or word for two people/things that are complete opposites
antipodal: The events of summer intertwine the stories of (two) antipodal drug dealers.
MW:
1: of or relating to the antipodes
specifically : situated at the opposite side of the earth or moon
an ...
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What is the phrase or expression which has the word ‘finger’ in it and means very easily or quickly
"like snapping your fingers" or "at the snap of a finger" or other constructions that refer to snapping fingers, also this. This conveys the idea that it is easy and basically ...
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What is the phrase or expression which has the word ‘finger’ in it and means very easily or quickly
How about:
Long ago the Internet was not at everybody’s fingertips.
It’s slightly awkward in this example sentence — it works better when the active agent is more explicit (e.g. “When I was a kid, we ...
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What is the phrase or expression which has the word ‘finger’ in it and means very easily or quickly
There is a possibility of using a fixed expression that has "fingers" in it, but it would probably be better to use it in the present case as introduced by another fixed expression ("...
- 13.1k
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Is describing someone as “higher-educated” awkward?
I don't think you say this about yourself, but when you promote someone else.
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More concise word of phrase for "to turn into a process"
Processtize is a useful verb. To me, it’s more intuitive than Processize.
If you rework the sentence, the suggestion above to “Routinize a an unstructured process” is a good one.
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need an idiom or phrase that means that the same event resulted (or results) in contrasting outcomes for 2 different inividuals
With respect, you are making heavy weather of something that is simple in principle. The idea you wish to convey is that one event set the two lifeguards on different courses. It's a turning point ...
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1
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Looking for idiom or phrase similar to "for dummies"
for the layman / in layman's terms
or
break it down [for me]
Examples:
Who can explain [technical term] in layman's terms?
Yes, that's the technical definition, good. Can you also break it down for ...
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Looking for idiom or phrase similar to "for dummies"
English 101 could work:
101 is more common in AmE than BrE but it is understood in both.
101 (slang) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
101 (pronounced ONE-oh-ONE) is a slang term for the most ...
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Looking for idiom or phrase similar to "for dummies"
You could say
in words of one syllable
from Farlex
In simple terms that are easy to understand. (Usually implying that the listener is unintelligent.)
I don't understand financial derivatives—can ...
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Taking no action is easier than taking some action
At least five possibilities come to mind. Whether they fit your specification exactly or not depends on context or circumstance.
If you do not wish to interfere with the course of events, you may
...
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Taking no action is easier than taking some action
Take the path of least resistance. It even has its own Wikipedia page!
The physical or metaphorical pathway that provides the least resistance to forward motion by a given object or entity, among a ...
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need an idiom or phrase that means "you're up early"
I hereby submit four possible suggestions for an alternate wording. Note that the square brackets in the fourth suggestion means optional and the "<->" squiggle means choose either. I ...
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need an idiom or phrase that means "you're up early"
up with the lark
in British English
up early in the morning
Bright and early
very early in the morning
He was up bright and early, keen to get started.
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What's it called when you lose contact with reality when watching a movie?
Transported [to another time / place]
From Cambridge Dictionary:
If something transports you to a different time or place, it makes you
feel as if you were in it:
The film transports you back to the ...
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need an idiom or phrase that means "you're up early"
You could try "you're an early bird", which would be derived from the common aphorism "The early bird catches the worm".
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What do you call a flat with a small yard with no roof?
Are you looking for a garden flat?
From Lexico:
garden flat
noun
A basement or ground floor flat which opens on to a garden.
Examples of a garden flat:
(Source)
(Source)
The flat opens to or has ...
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Is there a term for computer users who prefer keyboard shortcuts over a mouse?
I know not an exact match but perhaps you could say “command-line user” as opposed to “GUI user”.
I know that the OP is asking about hot keys etc, but the people who use them are same people who are ...
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Idiom for gift or gesture that isn't good enough
pandering often has a connotation that what is given is woefully short of that which is necessary. One would, in a lazy attempt to placate others, pander to their constituents by providing or ...
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Idiom for gift or gesture that isn't good enough
Smoke and mirrors
Merriam-Webster:
Something intended to disguise or draw attention away from an often embarrassing or unpleasant issue
Example: The recent school budget increase is just smoke and ...
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Requesting someone to perform a task without sounding pushy
The key is to use "I-messages." This means that you talk about you. You explain what you need and why. Example, taken from a portal message I sent to my primary today:
Drug X has been ...
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Idiom for gift or gesture that isn't good enough
Token. Tokenism.
If you refer to an action as tokenism, you disapprove of it because you think it is just done for effect, in order to show a particular intention or to impress a particular type of ...
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Idiom for gift or gesture that isn't good enough
throw (someone) a bone (idiom)
Informal
To offer (someone) something that is not very important or valuable
especially to stop complaints or protests
The boss would not let his workers out early for ...
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Idiom for gift or gesture that isn't good enough
The expression window dressing may fit in the context you are describing:
things that are of no real importance and are said or done in order to make an attractive effect:
How many of the candidate'...
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Accepted
Is there an equivalent to the assertive/polite expression "je me permets de ..." in English?
Je me permets de vous rappeler que la date limite est le 19 novembre.
This carries the assertive strength of
If I may/could/might (in order of assertiveness) remind you that …
(I assume the ...
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Is there an equivalent to the assertive/polite expression "je me permets de ..." in English?
The French represents a kind of understatement. It sounds polite, but is really there to convey the speaker's sense of superiority. The nearest English equivalent is
I take the liberty of...
The ...
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Is there an equivalent to the assertive/polite expression "je me permets de ..." in English?
If we take a typical use of this expression, it appears that there are three main renderings.
I would like to
May I
Let me
Je me permet de (vous faire remarquer que …)
[I would like to]/[May I]/[Let ...
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A word or phrase for a non-military attack on a country's home soil
GUERILLA WARFARE is usually what asymmetric war refers to.
Usually a smaller force that is not a military, sometimes a revolutionary or terrorist force. As such they use ambushes, hiding, often ...
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I need a word whose meaning is somewhere on the spectrum between 'too scared' and 'too dumb'. Or a phrase/idiom
"Bart, we’re literally here buying you drugs cus you’re too chicken to buy your own high"
From Urban Dictionary, which for once, provides a decent definition
too chicken
When someone is ...
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I need a word whose meaning is somewhere on the spectrum between 'too scared' and 'too dumb'. Or a phrase/idiom
pathetic (Lexico.com)
Arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness
Miserably inadequate; of very low standard
...where in practice, that "vulnerability" is often fearfulness, ...
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I need a word whose meaning is somewhere on the spectrum between 'too scared' and 'too dumb'. Or a phrase/idiom
"panicky" may fit the bill, as it implies unreasoning and overpowering fear, making one unable to act astutely in an emergency.
panicky - "thrown into a state of intense fear or ...
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Formal salutation of a servant to a child?
They say it is minor as 'Minor will you please' as (sir your power are)? but most refences are tender and the control of a union or marriage. The minor power of the world.
It is where the WILL, WANT ...
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Formal salutation of a servant to a child?
Master was a jest to display parenthood and abuse the child in plain sight because tender and being able defeated the elderly but the need to be cared for was evident if you research common scenes you ...
3
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Accepted
What is the proper term for a "physical event"?
The expression is in person:
by meeting with someone rather than talking on the phone, e-mailing, or writing to the person.
You must apply for the license in person.
in-person
(adjective)
...
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What is the expression for stating that it isn't for us to say something?
Whatever its formulation, it's a common expression. Is it for us to say . . .? Nor is it for us to say . . .
These are the results from Google NGram "not for * to say"
not for me to say
...
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3
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Accepted
What would you call a specialised object unique to a person?
TV tropes calls it an Iconic Item.
Within the text they also use "signature item", which I feel may be an even better fit:
Early in [The Fourth Doctor's] run the production team had ...
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What is a literal rephrasing of "that builds on our foundation of"?
There's a classic mixed metaphor: [a new journey] [building on a foundation]. Separately, each metaphor works very well, but they clash when placed together.
But I'm not sure that rendering one ...
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Accepted
What is a literal rephrasing of "that builds on our foundation of"?
IMO it does not sound good, but is intended to sound important; "relentless innovation" isn't "foundation" to me, but suggests shifting sand. I would prefer tradition to '...
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